About this Artist

Masato Baba (Artistic Director) began playing and studying taiko at the age of six under his parents, jazz musician Russel Baba and taiko drummer Jeanne Mercer, who were among the first members of the San Francisco Taiko Dojo, the first taiko group in the United States. He was also a member of the Kenny Endo Taiko Ensemble, and served as instructor and director of the Youth Group at Endo's school, The Taiko Center of the Pacific. He is a founding member of TAIKOPROJECT dating back to 2000 and is recognized as one of the leading next-generation taiko and shinobue performers and composers in the United States.